The Controlling Effect of Words
We all have those people in our lives whether it’s hearing them talk about certain things, their status, their endeavors, or how they talk to us, they always find a way of getting under our skin or make our eyes roll to the back of heads. The last thing you want to do is SNAP and say something you’ll regret.
Don’t do the easy thing
Years ago, I would react so easily to people who didn’t share the same ideas or practices as myself. I thought I was the center of the world and I would often make fun or lecture people on how their lifestyle isn’t sufficient enough. Whether they were fit enough or their education wasn’t in the correct field of study. First of all, who am I to lecture someone on that? I am a nobody and I still am a nobody. People have this crazy idea that everybody in the world is against them but really the only person that is going against you is yourself. Who cares if someone is a millionaire and you are still working a full-time job or unemployed. Life isn’t a race and everybody is different. Life is too short to care about others opinions. You have to do what makes you happy and make evaluated decisions you feel are true to yourself. Next time somebody is bragging about their new job, car, hand bag, money, or talking about politics that you don’t agree with, just be happy for them. Breathe but take the time to think about why they need to be bragging or talking about themselves or certain topics.
Sit back and observe
Believe it or not, sitting back and just observing helps significantly. More often than not, you end up feeling sorry for the person. Crazy I Know! I didn’t believe it until I spoke to my life coach after interacting with a person I couldn’t tolerate. When we walked away I said “Doesn’t that person just drive you crazy!?” She responded with “No, it makes me sad. Sad that whatever happened in their life that caused them to think they are not good enough to where they feel that they have to constantly talk about themselves to prove how significant they are”. This idea is similar to viewing bullies. No one is born a bully. Someone made them that way. So when someone is being cocky, arrogant, or mean, take a step back and ask why. Are they cocky because someone constantly reminded that person they weren’t good enough so now they feel they need to flaunt themselves to the rest of the world? Are they arrogant because the most important people in their lives chose not to listen to their opinions or ideals so they feel they need to try harder to present their ideas to others? Being mean never does anybody any good.
People underestimate the power of kindness. I know we hear about and we see it in videos from time to time but you’d be surprised the effect it has on people. Next time somebody is being rude or mean to you, take my advice and drown them in kindness. Say “I’m sorry”, “thank you”, “hope you have a great day”, “let me know if there’s anything I can do to help”, and not in a condescending way. Be sincere. One act of kindness can make someone's day even week. Give it a try, next time you see that person, don’t respond, just be civil, observe, and respond with kindness. Sometimes even asking them to join you for lunch or a coffee run will make their day. There are so many things that can upset us and we’ve all become such sensitive creatures. I don’t want to sound like a hippy but kindness is often the cure to irrational thoughts and feelings. Kindness isn’t practiced enough, be the person you wish you had when you were younger because somebody else out there might still need them.
